Mrs. Jennifer Williams (Zimbabwe), one of the leaders of the NGO Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), has been nominated for the 2006 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA).  Ms. Williams was one of the participants at the International Consultation on Women Human Rights Defenders held last 29 November – 2 December 2005.  She is the only woman activist out of the four nominees for the award.

Ms.  Williams has been regularly arrested and subjected to acts of harassment because of her activities within WOZA. Recently on February 13, 2006, Ms. Williams along with approximately 181 persons, mainly women, who were demonstrating under the banner of the NGO Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), and 14 children, were arrested in central Bulawayo, as they were dispersing from a peaceful protest against human rights violations. Aside from Ms. Williams, three other WOZA leaders, Mrs. Magodonga Mahlangu, Mrs. Emily Mpofu and Mrs. Maria Moyo, were arrested, finger-printed and ordered to make statements. The detainees were charged with “organising an unlawful gathering” (Section 24 of the Public Order and Security Act).  Ms.  Williams has been released on February 14 but she and others arrested will stand trial for the charges.

The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA), created in 1993, is a unique collaboration among ten of the world’s leading non-governmental human rights organisations to give protection to human rights defenders worldwide. The Jury is composed of the following: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, FIDH, the International Commission of Jurists, OMCT, German Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, International Alert, and Huridocs

The previous MEA laureates are: Aktham Naisse, Syria (2005); Lida Yusupova, Russia (2004); Alirio Uribe Mu๑oz, Colombia (2003); Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad (2002); Peace Brigades International (2001); Immacul้e Birhaheka, DR Congo (2000); Natasa Kandic, Yugoslavia (1999); Eyad El Sarraj, Palestine (1998); Samuel Ruiz Garcํa; Mexico (1997); Clement Nwankwo, Nigeria (1996); Asma Jahangir, Pakistan (1995); Harry Wu, China (1994).

Based on the press release on the Martin Ennals Awards and action alert on Jenni Williams issued by The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), under their joint programme, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.